MARTIN LAING

SELDOM can a team have dominated a game so utterly comprehensively yet failed so miserably to put away their opponents as Ayr did, writes Martin Laing at Bridgehaugh.

Ayr were camped in the final few metres of Stirling’s territory for virtually all of the first half. The visitors were superior in every facet of the game, including an imperious scrummage that had County’s pack reeling.

Stirling’s first incursion into the Ayr half resulted in a penalty after nearly half an hour that Jonny Hope nudged over for a lead at the interval that was met with incredulity by almost everyone at Bridgehaugh. Indeed, County could have stretched their advantage just before the break when an all too rare burst upfield was only denied by a final pass that went forward.

Stirling then added to their lead when Hope again chipped over another kick. However, the pressure finally told when former County man Will Bordill, pictured, barged over for a try that Frazier Climo converted. Climo then added a further three points to put the game beyond County.